NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 16-FEB-2024 07:49 AM Dkt. 77 SO
NOS. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX AND CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
NEW BANGKOK, INC. DBA PATTAYA THAI, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GLENN K.C. HO AND OHK SOOK HO, CO-TRUSTEES OF THE GLENN K.C. HO REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST DATED APRIL 4, 2003 AND THE OHK SOOK HO REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST DATED APRIL 4, 2003, Defendants-Appellants, and JOHN DOES 1-10; JANE DOES 1-10; DOE CORPORATIONS 1-10; DOE PARTNERSHIPS 1-10; AND DOE TRUSTS 1-10, Defendants
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CIVIL NO. 1CC181001575)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Nakasone and Guidry, JJ.)
In these consolidated appeals, Defendants-Appellants
Glenn K.C. Ho and Ohk Sook Ho (Mrs. Ho), Co-Trustees of the Glenn
K.C. Ho Revocable Living Trust Dated April 4, 2003 and the Ohk
Sook Ho Revocable Living Trust Dated April 4, 2003 (together, the
Hos) appeal from the: (1) July 10, 2019 Order Denying [the Hos']
Motion to Set Aside Entry of Default, Filed on December 12, 2018
and Entry of Default Judgment Ordered April 10, 2019 (Order
Denying Set Aside); and (2) October 25, 2019 Order Granting NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Plaintiff New Bangkok, Inc. dba Pattaya Thai's [(New Bangkok's)]
Motion for Award of Attorneys' Fees and Costs Incurred in
Defending Against [the Hos'] Motion to Set Aside Entry of
Default, filed on December 12, 2018 and Entry of Default Judgment
Ordered April 10, 2019 (Order Granting Fees and Costs), both
entered by the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Circuit
Court).1 The Hos also challenge the First Amended Default
Judgment and Order entered (upon remand) on May 1, 2020 (Default
Judgment).
In CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, the Hos raise a single point of
error, contending the Circuit Court abused its discretion in
denying their motion to set aside the default and the Default
Judgment. In CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, the Hos raise a single point of
error, challenging the Order Granting Fees and Costs on various
alternative grounds.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the arguments advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we
resolve the Hos' points of error as follows:
(1) At the time that the Circuit Court decided the
Hos' motion to set aside the default and the default judgment,
the three-prong test set forth in BDM, Inc. v. Sageco, Inc., 57
Haw. 73, 77, 549 P.2d 1147, 1150 (1976), abrogated prospectively
by Chen v. Mah, 146 Hawai#i 157, 457 P.3d 796 (2020), applied to
a determination of whether to set aside a default. Pursuant to
the BDM test, a motion to set aside default should be granted
1 The Honorable James S. Kawashima presided.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
whenever the court finds: "(1) that the nondefaulting party will
not be prejudiced by the reopening; (2) that the defaulting party
has a meritorious defense; and (3) that the default was not the
result of inexcusable neglect or a wilful act." Id. (citation
omitted). Each of the BDM three factors are grounded in equity
principles, and a merits-oriented outcome is favored over
preserving the finality of a judgment. See J.K. v. D.K., 153
Hawai#i 268, 274-75, 533 P.3d 1215, 1221-22 (2023).
Here, the Circuit Court made the following findings of fact and conclusions of law in the Order Denying Set Aside: FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The Court takes judicial notice of the records and files herein;
2. Defendants were afforded and declined the opportunity to engage in arbitration with Plaintiff; and 3. New owners are in possession of the real property that was the subject of the lease at issue in this action.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Due to the ownership change referenced supra, and the potential changes or alterations to the real property at issue, the Court cannot find that no prejudice will be suffered by Plaintiff if the default judgment is vacated in this case;
2. The defense of arbitration is a jurisdictional challenge that would require vacatur of default judgment, and the Court does not find that vacatur is warranted; and
3. Defendant has failed to establish excusable neglect.
We first address the issue of prejudice. It is
undisputed that on September 7, 2018, the Hos notified New
Bangkok that the subject property was being sold, and on October
2, 2018, a deed was recorded conveying the property to a third
party. New Bangkok filed its Complaint on October 3, 2018, the
day after the property was conveyed. Because ownership of the
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
property was already transferred, the setting aside of the
Default Judgment would not have created any problems of proof or
prejudice for New Bangkok that did not already exist at the time
that New Bangkok filed its Complaint. "The mere fact that the
nondefaulting party will be required to prove [its] case without
the inhibiting effect of the default upon the defaulting party
does not constitute prejudice which should prevent a reopening."
BDM, 57 Haw. at 76, 549 P.2d at 1150.
Next, we consider whether the default was a result of inexcusable neglect or a wilful act. In Cnty. of Haw. v. Ala
Loop Homeowners, 123 Hawai#i 391, 424-25, 235 P.3d 1103, 1136-37
(2010) (citation omitted), abrogated on other grounds by Tax
Found. of Haw. v. State, 144 Hawai#i 175, 199, 439 P.3d 127, 151
(2019), the Hawai#i Supreme Court held that a charter school's
failure to hire private counsel to file an answer constituted
excusable neglect, and that the circuit court abused its
discretion in denying the school's motion to set aside the entry
of default. The charter school had tendered the defense of the
complaint to the attorney general, but default was entered before
an agreement was reached with the attorney general for
representation. Id. at 424, 235 P.3d at 1136-37. The supreme
court noted that the school had not simply ignored the complaint,
but had made an effort to obtain representation through the
attorney general, and there was no lengthy delay between the
entry of default and the filing of the motion to set aside the
default. Id. at 423-24, 235 P.3d at 1135-36.
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Here, the Hos similarly made an effort to secure
representation, and when they learned that default judgment had
been entered, and were unable to reach the attorney, secured
other counsel to file the motion to set aside default judgment.
Mrs. Ho avered that after she and her husband were served with
New Bangkok's First Amended Complaint, they consulted with their
long-term attorney Vernon Tashima, who "referred us to Craig
Furusho, Esq. to handle the litigation.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 16-FEB-2024 07:49 AM Dkt. 77 SO
NOS. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX AND CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
NEW BANGKOK, INC. DBA PATTAYA THAI, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GLENN K.C. HO AND OHK SOOK HO, CO-TRUSTEES OF THE GLENN K.C. HO REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST DATED APRIL 4, 2003 AND THE OHK SOOK HO REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST DATED APRIL 4, 2003, Defendants-Appellants, and JOHN DOES 1-10; JANE DOES 1-10; DOE CORPORATIONS 1-10; DOE PARTNERSHIPS 1-10; AND DOE TRUSTS 1-10, Defendants
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CIVIL NO. 1CC181001575)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Nakasone and Guidry, JJ.)
In these consolidated appeals, Defendants-Appellants
Glenn K.C. Ho and Ohk Sook Ho (Mrs. Ho), Co-Trustees of the Glenn
K.C. Ho Revocable Living Trust Dated April 4, 2003 and the Ohk
Sook Ho Revocable Living Trust Dated April 4, 2003 (together, the
Hos) appeal from the: (1) July 10, 2019 Order Denying [the Hos']
Motion to Set Aside Entry of Default, Filed on December 12, 2018
and Entry of Default Judgment Ordered April 10, 2019 (Order
Denying Set Aside); and (2) October 25, 2019 Order Granting NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Plaintiff New Bangkok, Inc. dba Pattaya Thai's [(New Bangkok's)]
Motion for Award of Attorneys' Fees and Costs Incurred in
Defending Against [the Hos'] Motion to Set Aside Entry of
Default, filed on December 12, 2018 and Entry of Default Judgment
Ordered April 10, 2019 (Order Granting Fees and Costs), both
entered by the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Circuit
Court).1 The Hos also challenge the First Amended Default
Judgment and Order entered (upon remand) on May 1, 2020 (Default
Judgment).
In CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, the Hos raise a single point of
error, contending the Circuit Court abused its discretion in
denying their motion to set aside the default and the Default
Judgment. In CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, the Hos raise a single point of
error, challenging the Order Granting Fees and Costs on various
alternative grounds.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the arguments advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we
resolve the Hos' points of error as follows:
(1) At the time that the Circuit Court decided the
Hos' motion to set aside the default and the default judgment,
the three-prong test set forth in BDM, Inc. v. Sageco, Inc., 57
Haw. 73, 77, 549 P.2d 1147, 1150 (1976), abrogated prospectively
by Chen v. Mah, 146 Hawai#i 157, 457 P.3d 796 (2020), applied to
a determination of whether to set aside a default. Pursuant to
the BDM test, a motion to set aside default should be granted
1 The Honorable James S. Kawashima presided.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
whenever the court finds: "(1) that the nondefaulting party will
not be prejudiced by the reopening; (2) that the defaulting party
has a meritorious defense; and (3) that the default was not the
result of inexcusable neglect or a wilful act." Id. (citation
omitted). Each of the BDM three factors are grounded in equity
principles, and a merits-oriented outcome is favored over
preserving the finality of a judgment. See J.K. v. D.K., 153
Hawai#i 268, 274-75, 533 P.3d 1215, 1221-22 (2023).
Here, the Circuit Court made the following findings of fact and conclusions of law in the Order Denying Set Aside: FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The Court takes judicial notice of the records and files herein;
2. Defendants were afforded and declined the opportunity to engage in arbitration with Plaintiff; and 3. New owners are in possession of the real property that was the subject of the lease at issue in this action.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Due to the ownership change referenced supra, and the potential changes or alterations to the real property at issue, the Court cannot find that no prejudice will be suffered by Plaintiff if the default judgment is vacated in this case;
2. The defense of arbitration is a jurisdictional challenge that would require vacatur of default judgment, and the Court does not find that vacatur is warranted; and
3. Defendant has failed to establish excusable neglect.
We first address the issue of prejudice. It is
undisputed that on September 7, 2018, the Hos notified New
Bangkok that the subject property was being sold, and on October
2, 2018, a deed was recorded conveying the property to a third
party. New Bangkok filed its Complaint on October 3, 2018, the
day after the property was conveyed. Because ownership of the
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
property was already transferred, the setting aside of the
Default Judgment would not have created any problems of proof or
prejudice for New Bangkok that did not already exist at the time
that New Bangkok filed its Complaint. "The mere fact that the
nondefaulting party will be required to prove [its] case without
the inhibiting effect of the default upon the defaulting party
does not constitute prejudice which should prevent a reopening."
BDM, 57 Haw. at 76, 549 P.2d at 1150.
Next, we consider whether the default was a result of inexcusable neglect or a wilful act. In Cnty. of Haw. v. Ala
Loop Homeowners, 123 Hawai#i 391, 424-25, 235 P.3d 1103, 1136-37
(2010) (citation omitted), abrogated on other grounds by Tax
Found. of Haw. v. State, 144 Hawai#i 175, 199, 439 P.3d 127, 151
(2019), the Hawai#i Supreme Court held that a charter school's
failure to hire private counsel to file an answer constituted
excusable neglect, and that the circuit court abused its
discretion in denying the school's motion to set aside the entry
of default. The charter school had tendered the defense of the
complaint to the attorney general, but default was entered before
an agreement was reached with the attorney general for
representation. Id. at 424, 235 P.3d at 1136-37. The supreme
court noted that the school had not simply ignored the complaint,
but had made an effort to obtain representation through the
attorney general, and there was no lengthy delay between the
entry of default and the filing of the motion to set aside the
default. Id. at 423-24, 235 P.3d at 1135-36.
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Here, the Hos similarly made an effort to secure
representation, and when they learned that default judgment had
been entered, and were unable to reach the attorney, secured
other counsel to file the motion to set aside default judgment.
Mrs. Ho avered that after she and her husband were served with
New Bangkok's First Amended Complaint, they consulted with their
long-term attorney Vernon Tashima, who "referred us to Craig
Furusho, Esq. to handle the litigation. I understood from Mr.
Furusho that he had obtained an extension to answer the complaint. With the understanding that Mr. Furusho was retained
to represent our interests I waited for communications from him
on the status." Around April 10, 2019, Mrs. Ho learned that New
Bangkok had obtained a default judgment and retained other
counsel to file the motion to set aside the default judgment
after she was unable to reach Mr. Furusho. The Hos' May 8, 2019
motion to set aside the default judgment was filed less than one
month after the order granting default judgment was entered and
two days after the (original) default judgment was entered. In
light of, inter alia, Ala Loop Homeowners and the short period of
time between the entry of the default judgment and the Hos'
motion to set aside, we conclude that the Circuit Court clearly
erred in concluding that the Hos failed to establish excusable
neglect.
Finally, we consider whether the Hos had a potentially
meritorious defense. "Determining whether a defense is
potentially meritorious, requires an evaluation of the possible,
rather than probable, effect of the defense on the decision
5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
maker." Briones v. State, 74 Haw. 442, 464, 848 P.2d 966, 977
(1993) (footnote omitted). "All that is necessary to satisfy the
'meritorious defense' requirement is to allege sufficient facts
that, if true, would constitute a defense[.] U.S. v. Aguilar,
782 F.3d 1101, 1107 (9th Cir. 2015) (citation omitted).
Here, the Hos raised various defenses including that
the Lease upon which New Bangkok's Amended Complaint relied was
already terminated. In support of their motion to set aside, the
Hos pointed to various provisions of the Lease and the declaration of Mrs. Ho supporting their defensive argument that
the Lease expired by its terms on July 31, 2017, and that if New
Bangkok wanted to extend the Lease, it was required to provide a
written notice, which it did not. Under the applicable standard,
we conclude that the Circuit Court clearly erred in failing to
find that the Hos had a potentially meritorious defense.2
In light of the above, we conclude that the Circuit
Court abused its discretion in entering the Order Denying Set
Aside.
(2) The Hos challenge the Order Granting Fees and Costs
on various alternative grounds, including on grounds that the
Circuit Court abused its discretion in awarding fees and costs to
New Bangkok in light of the Circuit Court's abuse of discretion
in entering the Order Denying Set Aside. This argument has
merit. The Order Granting Fees and Costs will be vacated,
2 We decline to address the other defenses raised in the Hos' motion to set aside the default judgment.
6 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
without prejudice to a new request for attorneys' fees and costs
after completion of further proceedings in the Circuit Court.
For these reasons, the Circuit Court's July 10, 2019
Order Denying Set Aside, October 25, 2019 Order Granting Fees and
Costs, and May 1, 2020 Default Judgment are vacated. This case
is remanded to the Circuit Court for further proceedings
consistent with this Summary Disposition Order.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, February 16, 2024.
On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Acting Chief Judge John S. Rhee, Madisson L. Heinze, /s/ Karen T. Nakasone (Dentons US LLP), Associate Judge for Defendants-Appellants. /s/ Kimberly T. Guidry Brian W. Tilker, Associate Judge H. Shan Wirt, Erik A. Rask, (Torkildson Katz Hetherington Harris & Knorek), for Plaintiff-Appellee.